The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-07
CLARA BGLLt'S BUDHET.
UNDERSTANDING WHERE BAR.
GAINS ARE OFFERED.


ssmmer Theaters-womeu Gap.
tivated BY the Footiights.
IsrRciAL CORRESPONDENCE oy The APpKAL.l
New YORK, August Cone of
the big aud fashionable dry goods
houses advertised a specia, summer
clearing out sale, and prices we're
quoted that made economical wom-
ems purse strings unite of their own
accorA The prospect Of getting
first rate goods for about 20 per cent.
OF the usual price was most alluring,
and the counters for the succeeding
three or four days we're densely
crowded by hot, uncomfortable,
eager crowd OF women. They were
m ostly people of ordinary means, as
would be expected, but there we're
noticeable exceptions. Each day
brought young and old women in
their private carriages, just as if it
were midwinter, aud this were
fashionable opening OF new and ex.
pensive lines. The explanation
probably lay not so much ia the fact
that there are people who put up
the shutters on the front windows
and live in the back rooms during
July and August, as that many sum.
merlng within reasonable travelling
distance OF the city. saw the adyer.
tisements aud made special trips back
home to ,nse advantage Of the extra.
ordinary prices. That was business.
but there was also comical element
10 it, Tor nine out of ten of them
came at proposterOusly early hour.
hoping TO get ahead of all others who
might be doing the same thing. This
was not for fear Of losing the best
bargains, but to avoid being recog.
pized. Not half the clerks
had arrived at their places when
the first carriage rolled up 10
the door. The liveried iootman
leaped from bis perch, opened the
carriage door and stood solemnly AZ
one side. A large, elderly but lively
woman Immediately stepped out.
purse bag in hand, and gave a rapid
glance about her. Then she smiled
in satisfied, triumphant way. and
marched into the store. A few min.
utes later and a similar carriage
stopped at the curb. Again il WINS
an elderly woman who appeared at
the door. She had put her foot on
the step and h,r shoulders were well
out Of the vehicle, when she caught
sight Of the first carriage Just below
Hastily Withdrawing, she babe the
footman tell the driver to 20 around
to the other entrance 10 the store ON
a side street. In q little while
third carriage came up. A young
lady, brisk and bushes like in an
pearance, got out. She saw the first
carriage with undisguised amaze.
ment, aud paused on the sidewalk
for brief instant. Then she threw
her head little higher into the air
aud waltzed into the store, deter.
mined apparently to yut bold face
on the matter. BY half past 8 OF clock
the walk in front OF that store was
so crowded with carriages that
policeman OF the neighborhood had
TO keep them moving Just as IL
the occasion had been sprinc
9pen,Dg OF an opera matinee.
Inside the store | witnessed the
encounter OF two or three of the
shameiaced purchasers. IL took all
their cultivated self possession 20
appear unconceroed aud clad 10 see
each other. II was just passing
through town, said one. on my way
TO Saratoga, and il did not seem
right TO leave the place without at
least pre,ense at shopping" And
was curious, said another. "to see
what could be in the shops this hot
weather" Just as il limited amount
OF shopping was not done every week
OF the summer season. But the
young lady, who held her head still
the higher when she saw that she
was not alone ON the economical
trip, greeted an elderly and very
proud looking woman efiusiyely. and
said: And oh ! Mrs. Van dc Van.
| want you 20 come right down to
the next section. They have there
some OF the loyeliest satin marked
away down so low that IL is a shame
that IL should not be bought up at
once. l am sure you will feel Ike
taking some, II is 50 cheap. bought
a lot OF IT, and Mrs. Van dc Van
looked as Il she we're taking a g,eat
swear never, never TO 20 shopping
again in the summer, because goods
were advertised at low prices.
IL is a common saying that every
body Is out OF town at this time of
year, but for some reason or other
the theators that keep open find
patronage that pays, aud the great
commercial houses where society
does its shopping keep up a brave
pretenso at business during the
hottest OF the hot weather. The most
cursory glance about town will show
that there are lots Of worthy people
left here, and now and then the
iluctuating tide OF fashion brings
those OF the country residence back
Tor a day. or two az a time. They
pause in the transit from one water
ing place 10 another. IL may have
boon two girls OF this class that sat
in the front row OF the balcony az
one Of the thcaters tho other even.
ing, considerably interested in the
leading actor, a little ia the play,
aud not at all ia the people about
them. They we're dressed in tho
brcezie.t Of white, nouncy dresses.
aud looked like a Whit of mountain
air that had got lost in the city and
strayed into the thoater TO End some.
body 10 take il home. They took
turns In inspecting the handsome
star through the one pair of opera
glasses they had between them.
Their comments, which were helm.
lessly audible three seats away, we're !
variations on Isn't he nica?' with !
the accent on the nice, aud Isn't he !
nice2" with tho accent ON tho !
isn't. Incidentally they interlarded |
unfayorablc opinions Of the ladies in |